WKcollective | SHANGWE* – le bal
*joy in Kiswahili
An inclusive celebration imagined by Wanjiru Kamuyu
Creation 2025/26
Approx. 160 minutes
Suitable to all audiences up from 8 y/o. Participative.
An immersive and participatory experience infused with contemporary Afro-fusion rhythms, SHANGWE* – le bal forges a collective connection that resists the dehumanization of our world. Here, dance is not a diversion: it opens a path.
In the face of human relationships drying up under the invasion of the “all-digital,” Kenyan-American choreographer Wanjiru Kamuyu extends an irresistible invitation: to dance in order to come together. Like a transgenerational choreographic utopia, SHANGWE* – le bal is rooted as much in the heritage of dances from her region of origin as in the movements and pulses that fuel today’s celebrations—igniting clubs, streets, and stages around the world: Kinyatrap, Afrobeat, Kwaito, Amapiano, Afro-House, Kwassa Kwassa, Soukous…
In collaboration with choreographers from Kenya, Tanzania, and Burundi—who contribute both choreographic scores and musical textures—she shapes a shared ritual, unfolding from the warm-up, a true prelude to the event, to the live creation of diverse dance groups.
Conceived as an immersive journey, SHANGWE* – le bal kindles human warmth through the presence of a master of ceremonies, seasoned performers, and local collaborators trained along the way. At its heart resound women’s voices, echoing a dream of joy and vitality.
It is an inclusive and resilient tribute to a myriad of small stories with universal resonance. A bridge between spaces and bodies, rhythms, timbres, and signs from every horizon.
With this new creation, Wanjiru Kamuyu continues to weave multiple narratives and give voice to forgotten bodies, reaffirming through movement that dance is a shared celebration of life itself—an immersion into the pure pleasure of moving together, an energetic community.
Mélanie Drouère
At the heart of this project are the voices of women anchored in the idea of joy as an act of activism, an act of resistance, resilience and of dreaming. The project is deeply rooted in the cultural inspirations of East Africa, and conceived as a vibrant, inclusive, and socially engaged celebration—a space where bodies, rhythms, voices, and sign language converge to tell stories and spark festive, collective reflection.
“With this grand participatory party, I offer an immersive experience that celebrates dance as a powerful vector for joy, resilience, hope and human connection. The project gleans into the inspiring cultural richness of my birth region, East Africa. In collaboration with choreographers from Burundi, Tanzania and Kenya, SHANGWE* – le bal will be a celebratory and participatory space where participants will dance together to a beautifully crafted socially engaged musical repertory, rich in the traditions and contemporary sounds of East Africa, as well as cultures in Africa and of her diaspora.
I want to create a moment of togetherness that honors the joy and power of movement, as well as the pleasure of gathering in harmony. Le Bal is a call to be fully present, to foster genuine interactions with one another, and of prioritizing community connection over the isolation brought on by addictive screen culture and the endless stream of global news.
Today, social skills—especially amongst younger generations—are increasingly fragile, and loneliness has reached unprecedented levels, as direct consequences of screen dependency, the lingering effects of the COVID pandemic, and widespread anxiety about a dystopian future. We are living in a system that encourages societal division through a binary logic; where nuance, dissent, and diversity no longer seem to be valued. Genuine human interactions have never been so diminished.
SHANGWE* – le bal seeks to create a pocket of joy—a moment to reconnect with what matters most: human relationships, shared happiness, and a safe space where we can collectively dream, hope and celebrate our resilience in harmony.”
In the Summer/Fall 2025, a first version will be developed during residencies at CCNN, focusing on writing, musical and choreographic research, and audience engagement. Work-in-progress showings will be offered at CCNN.
In 2026, a new series of residencies will be used to integrate a DJ and a French Sign Language (LSF) performer into the project. For this second phase, the company is currently and actively seeking co-production partnerships and residency opportunities.
Upcoming presentations (work in progress)
Choreography and music research | Wanjiru Kamuyu in collaboration with Halima Masoud Abdallah, Predictor Lodenyi aka Pretty, Joyeux Nstinzi
Performers of the work in progress | Wanjiru Kamuyu, Elodie Paul, David Gaulein-Stef
Artistic associate | David Gaulein-Stef
Lighting design | Cyril Mulon
Production | camin aktion
Co-production | CCNN – Centre Chorégraphie National de Nantes, direction Ambra Senatore
Support | CN D. With the support of Ménagerie de verre as part of the StudioLab program.
Photos © Stéphane Chouan